The following post is by Selma Čampara, YES Abroad Program Coordinator, American Councils Bosnia-Herzegovina

After tearful farewells from friends and family members, the fifth generation of Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) participants joined together on a Monday night in August at the Gateway Hotel in Sarajevo. American Councils kicked off the YES program with a pre-departure travel orientation, followed by a meet-and-greet with representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo.

By Tuesday, August 13th, the 2013-14 YES participants from throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina headed to the U.S.; their departure marked by extensive local and national media coverage. The young, ambitious students were interviewed by two of Bosnia’s and Herzegovina’s main daily newspapers, Oslobođenje and Dnevni Avaz, as well as the Cantonal TV station (TV Sarajevo).

Oslobođenje highlighted the role American Councils’ office in Sarajevo plays in implementing the YES program, noting that the next round of YES recruitment in Bosnia and Herzegovina is slated to begin this fall in high schools throughout the country.

The following post is written by Michael Warchol, Communications Officer, Outbound Programs at American Councils

The results of the Spring 2013 Outbound Photo Contest are in! Congratulations to our study abroad participants who won first-place honors in each category:

Jasmin Cesko – 1st Place in the “Landscapes/Cityscapes” category:

“Stari Most (Old Bridge)” Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jesse Vincent – 1st Place in the “Russian/Eurasian Culture and Life” category:

“Nostalgia” Two babushki enjoying a warm spring afternoon across from the cathedral overlooking a pond.

Kellie Shea – 1st Place in the “Participant Life Abroad” category:

With the Hermitage as her backdrop, Olivia Goldenhersch break dances on Palace Square.

Each semester, American Councils study abroad participants in Russia, Eurasia, and the Balkans are invited to contribute photos of their experiences abroad to the Outbound Photo Contest. Participants submit photos that fit thematically into three categories:

Landscapes and Cityscapes: from the big cities to the dacha in the countryside, photos of picturesque locations witnessed first-hand.

Russian/Eurasian Culture and Life: photos that illustrate the essence of culture and life in the host country.

Participant Life Abroad: study abroad participants in photos that evoke the spirit of study abroad.

This semester, participants submitted dozens of unique photos from five different study abroad locations. Complete competition results are posted on Facebook.

For more than 35 years, American Councils has operated comprehensive international education programs for thousands of students and scholars. Participants greatly benefit from individual attention in small classes and from interaction with host faculty who have extensive experience in second language acquisition. From language immersion and area studies to the energy and business sectors, participants trust American Councils in the advancement of their education and careers.

American Councils Bosnia and Herzegovina would like to share with you a few accomplishments from 2012—what an amazing year this was!

February 2012: In collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, American Councils Bosnia and Herzegovina launched its “Tolerance through English” program, aimed to bring together high school students from Croat and Bosniak ethnic groups to share a classroom for the first time in 20 years. Seven students from the Bosniak ethnic group, and seven students from the Croat ethnic group, shared a classroom, where they studied English language and American culture during a 27-week course.

May 2012: Three Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP) fellows from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marijana Kapovic, Emir Muhic, and Edina Rizvic-Eminovic, returned from their semester abroad learning and teaching at universities in the U.S. This is the second to last cohort of JFDP fellows from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

June 2012: The third generation of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program scholarship recipients successfully completed their year in the U.S., and participated on the End-of-Stay Orientation in Washington, D.C., along with 190 other YES program participants from countries throughout the world. All 10 students arrived safely to Sarajevo on June 14, where they were welcomed by Mr. Thomas Mesa, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy and Sarajevo, and Ms. Sunshine Ison, Cultural Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, American Councils staff, and their families and friends.

August 2012: On August 13, eleven of the twelve YES Program participants, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, departed for their study abroad year in the U.S.

On August 14, the first generation of YES Abroad students from the U.S. arrived in Sarajevo with smiles on their faces and excitement in their voices. Ms. Emily Armitage, Deputy Cultural Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, host families, and American Councils staff, welcomed the students at the Sarajevo International Airport.

October 2012: On October 6, EducationUSA and American Councils, in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, organized the first-ever College Fair, where a number of American colleges and universities presented their undergraduate programs for international students to numerous guests.

November 2012: On November 16, we marked the 10th anniversary of the YES Program, as well as ten years since the opening of the American Councils office in the Bosnia and Herzegovina. Everyone had a great time!